Observations un the Decline of Sue nee, in England, li 



found in almost every town in the empire. We are asked if 

 the money thus raised by voluntary and cheerful contribution, 

 and expended most judiciously on purely scientific objects, is 

 not only fifty times greater than the whole amount so ostenta- 

 tiously distributed by the government of our neighbours, but 

 fifty times greater than the executive of this country could ven- 

 ture to collect for any such purpose, or would be permitted to 

 bestow even if they did collect it ? Then as to titles and other 

 external distinctions, is it not precisely because such honours 

 are distributed with a sparing hand in this country, that they 

 are felt, when bestowed, as of real value by the individuals 

 selected, and carry solid weight with the body of the nation ? 



" Having thus stated the substance of what has been urged 

 among scientific people, in reply to Mr Babbage, and part of 

 our own reviewal of his late treatise, we consider ourselves as 

 having given all readers the means of judging for themselves 

 between the contending parties. Truth, as in most cases, may 

 most probably lie between. That all Mr Babbage's complaints 

 and our own have been answered we do not think ; but croak- 

 ing is not our element, and it is a pleasing relief to do jus- 

 tice to the admirable style in which, with regard to one great 

 object of scientific inquiry, the British government in our day 

 has unquestionably done its duty — carrying the wishes of the 

 country into effect, by bringing its resources to a focus, and ap- 

 plying them in a manner which the government alone could 

 have had the means of doing, — we allude to the case of arctic 

 discovery. ***** 



" It is fair, then, to own, that in our view, Mr Babbage and 

 his allies should not have passed in silence what has been done 

 by the executive for this single investigation. 1 ' 



With some of these observations " Mr Babbage and his allies" 

 will not be disposed to quarrel ; for they have themselves expe- 

 rienced how great a demand England makes upon the generosity 

 of individuals for the support of her scientific institutions: but 

 this very fact is the result of the indifference of the government, 

 and is the most satisfactory proof of it that can be desired. We 

 beg, however, to remind the learned author of the preceding 

 extract, that societies may meet in countless numbers, — may 

 < In t their functionaries, — and publish their transactions, — and 



